There’s an old adage that describes when someone makes the decision to run for an elected office: it’s said, “They have decided to toss their hat into the ring.” It’s a whimsical idiom but, as is everything in politics, running for office is not quite that simple.

The Gainesville City Council will vote next week on a pair of ordinance amendments that will help law enforcement better control and mitigate two growing problems in the downtown area: urban camping and aggressive solicitation.